W Hotels Worldwide to Make Scottish Debut in 2021

19.7.2016 08:00 | Business Wire

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced it
will debut the iconic W Hotels brand in Scotland with W Edinburgh.
Opening in 2021 and set to reinvigorate the city’s traditional
hospitality scene, the hotel will be part of TH Real Estate’s Edinburgh
St James scheme, which is set to complete in 2020. Designed by
award-winning architecture and interior design practice Jestico +
Whiles, in conjunction with Allan Murray Architects, the 12-story
building will feature a unique façade crafted from a winding steel
‘ribbon’. W Edinburgh will form the centerpiece of the 1.7 million
square foot development, which will incorporate a vibrant blend of
retail, entertainment, leisure and residential apartments, further
reinforcing the city’s reputation as a booming cosmopolitan capital.

“As an established business hub with a thriving global tourism industry,
we are confident that there will be a huge appetite for our innovative
lifestyle brand in the Scottish capital,” said Michael Wale, President,
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “W
Edinburgh’s location at the pulsing heart of the new Edinburgh St James
development, combined with its innovative design, contemporary interiors
and the W brand’s signature programming, will create the perfect setting
for the second W hotel in the United Kingdom.”

W Edinburgh will redefine the city’s hospitality landscape with its
modern design, signature amenities and a full calendar of W Happenings
showcasing what’s new in design, fashion and music. Guests will also be
treated to the brand’s iconic Whatever/Whenever® service
philosophy that delivers whatever they want, whenever they want it.

The hotel will offer 214 stylish guestrooms, including 20 suites and one
Extreme Wow Suite (the W brand’s interpretation of the Presidential
Suite). The rooftop will feature a buzzing destination bar and outdoor
terrace, offering guests and locals 360-degree panoramic views of the
historic skyline, along with a cutting-edge approach to cocktails and
cuisine. Other areas will include W Lounge (the W brand’s energetic spin
on the hotel lobby), a signature restaurant, FIT® - the
ultimate workout facility, and an AWAY® Spa offering the W
Hotels brand’s signature health and lifestyle experiences. An ideal
venue for events, W Edinburgh will provide 2,450 square feet of
ultra-modern event space.

Stephen Wicks, Director of Shopping Centres at TH Real Estate, said,
“From the outset, our intention has been to secure a truly world class
hotel operator for Edinburgh St James, complementing the rest of the
development and forming an integral part of the scheme’s vibrant offer.
We are delighted to have finalised this deal with Starwood Hotels and
Resorts and to be welcoming such an iconic and established brand as W
Hotels to Scotland for the very first time.”

The Edinburgh St James development will see the shopping center
currently on site replaced with 850,000 square feet of retail space, a
multi-screen cinema and up to 250 new homes, as well as W Edinburgh. The
project will support the city’s tourist industry, which contributes an
estimated £260m to Edinburgh’s economy each year.

The addition of W Edinburgh to Starwood’s UK portfolio complements the
iconic W London - Leicester Square, which opened to great fanfare in
2011 and continues to wow jetsetters from around the world. W loyalists
will revel in being able to experience two energetic and unique UK
cities within a few hours of travel.

“The fact that W continues to drive growth across the EAME region is
testament to the exceptional appeal of the brand to owners and
developers. This standout location in the heart of Edinburgh will be a
fantastic addition to the W portfolio,” said Karl Bieberach, Vice
President Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe.

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About W Hotels Worldwide
W
Hotels is a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the industry
innovator with 49 hotels, including 18 W-branded residences, in the most
vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring,
iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in
insider access, offering a unique mix of cutting-edge design and
passions around fashion, music and entertainment. With over 15 years of
proven success, W Hotels is on track to reach 75 hotels by 2020. W
Hotels have been announced for Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Goa, Abu Dhabi,
Phuket, Dubai, Amman, Jakarta, Panama, Riviera Maya, Muscat, Hainan
Island, Suzhou, Changsha, Chengdu, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Shenyang,
Marrakech, Brisbane, Aspen and Madrid. For more information, visit whotels.com/theangle
or follow Twitter,
Instagram
and Facebook.

About TH Real Estate
TH Real
Estate is an established investment management company, specialising in
real estate equity and debt investment worldwide. As one of the largest
real estate managers in the world, TH Real Estate has the scale, capital
resources and knowledge to provide creative and effective real estate
investment solutions for clients. With a focus on the retail, office,
logistics, debt and multifamily residential sectors, TH Real Estate
emphasises sustainable practices to protect assets and maximise their
value. The company is owned by TIAA, the leading provider of financial
services in the academic, research, medical, cultural and government
fields. TIAA has c.£577bn assets under management* and offers a wide
range of financial solutions, including investing, banking, advice and
guidance, and retirement services. Launched in April 2014, TH Real
Estate has a dedicated global presence with offices across America, Asia
and Europe, representing c.£19.7bn* of real estate assets across c.50
funds and mandates. Together with TIAA’s US real estate assets, the
global real estate platform of £61.9bn* represents one of the largest
real estate investment management enterprises in the world. Its products
are managed by specialist teams, which apply their own experience to the
management and style of their portfolios. Each team is supported by an
experienced senior management team and integrated investment platform,
including finance, debt and currency management, performance analytics,
client service, fund and transaction structuring, development,
sustainability and research. www.threalestate.com *As at 31 December 2015